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RACHEL’S READS

Rachel’s Reads – March 2024

It’s that time of year again when spring break beckons. Whether you prefer carefree days spent in the sun, or the wind and snow of the slopes, this time of year embodies the chance to escape to a different setting. Not everyone will be traveling during spring break, but you can always travel through the […]

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Rachel’s Reads – February 2024

“Great wines are like great books. Once you take your first ‘sip’, they’re hard to put down.” – James Laube To me pairing books and wine makes perfect sense. They both involve a process of discovery, and they both create a rich and sensory experience. Good wines, like good books, are well-crafted or have a […]

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Rachel’s Reads – January 2024

Maybe it’s the cold sapping my mental brain power, but I’ve been very much in the mood for cozy reads by the fire. The crackling wood, a warm drink, and a book sounds like my idea of a perfect day spent avoiding the cold. On days like the ones we have recently suffered through, the […]

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Rachel’s Reads – December 2023

As the year comes to a close, it’s time once again for my yearly roundup of my favorite reads this year. A few might look familiar as I have recommended them throughout the year. Below are my favorites in four categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and backlist books (published prior to 2023).  Fiction Chain Gang All-Stars […]

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Rachel’s Reads – November 2023

As we step further into the holiday season, we gather with loved ones and share tenderhearted moments typically around food. Whether we are trying new recipes or making family favorites that have been passed down through generations, food always helps to warm the soul. Here are a few of the cookbooks I enjoyed flipping through, […]

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Rachel’s Reads – November 2023

With the resurgence of interest in Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass, I felt that this list of First Nations and Native American authors is quite timely. There are a few authors who have entered into the national canon. Louise Erdrich is well known and well respected in literary fiction, Stephen Graham Jones is one of […]

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Rachel’s Reads – September 2023

One of my favorite things about reading is the ability to experience different cultures and different lives. I know I’ve mentioned this George RR Martin quote before, but for me it really is true that “a reader lives a thousand lives.” It’s so fascinating to see the world through another lens, especially when that lens […]

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Rachel’s Reads – August 2023

As we celebrate the summer (and the end of that crazy heat dome), autumn is heading toward us full steam ahead. There is something about September especially that just has an educational vibe. It makes me want to run out and stock up on pens, pencils, and, of course, new books. Every September I find […]

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Rachel’s Reads – August 2023

“A non-fiction writer is a storyteller who has taken an oath to tell the truth.” – Russell Freedman I have been on a massive non-fiction kick recently. Every time I go to the bookstore or check out a list of what’s coming out soon, I am immediately attracted to multiple non-fiction titles. A non-fiction writer […]

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Rachel’s Reads – July 2023

The most dramatic season of the year is upon us: wedding season! I’m not sure there hasn’t been one wedding without at least a smidgeon of drama. Whether it comes from family, friends, loved ones, or the vendors, weddings are a flash point for high expectations, past disappointments, and maybe even old resentments to rear […]

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Rachel’s Reads – June 2023 #PRIDE

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”  – Audre Lorde Books, like people, come in all types of packages. There are different sizes, lengths, and genres. There are picture books (and graphic novels) where the image takes center stage, and fiction that paints […]

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Rachel’s Reads – May 2023

“For me, any story I tackle begins with the human relationships and not the plot.” – Celeste Ng For me, the short story is both an art form and a magic trick. Authors can write from a few pages to several thousand words and break my heart or give me an out-of-body experience. They can […]

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Rachel’s Reads – April 2023

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” – Martin Buber   Children’s books can be filled with lessons about morals, confidence, bravery, friendship, and so much more. They open up new worlds or explain parts of the world around us. They teach us about perspectives and imagination, all while surrounding us […]

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Rachel’s Reads – March 2023

“For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” – Virginia Woolf Many of the traditional and textbook historical narratives center male experiences and hide the contributions of women. Throughout the different aspects of human history, whether politics, science, literature, art, or sport, that tendency removes a huge portion of the knowledge and experiences of the […]

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Rachel’s Reads – February 2023

“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” – Thurgood Marshall Black history is American history and thus should be something that we all understand, know, and discuss. Acknowledging and learning from the painful parts of our shared past should be something that we appreciate rather than trying to […]

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Rachel’s Reads – January 2023

“Sooner or later, everything old is new again.” – Stephen King I often see and hear requests for classics that should either be revisited or books that have stood the test of time. Although everyone has incredibly diverse tastes, there are books that have and have not aged well. Literature is something that should be […]

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Rachel’s Reads – December 2022

The year is winding down, the weather outside is becoming chillier, and I can’t wait to curl up by the fire with a great book. As in past Decembers, I am continuing the tradition started several years ago of sharing my top books of the year. I hope you will see one of your favorites […]

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Rachel’s Reads – November 2022

The people who give you their food give you their heart.” – Cesar Chavez As the holidays approach and families gather once more, I am reminded again and again that to cook is to nourish, not just the body, but also the spirit. The sharing of food gives pleasure and renewal. Each time we gather […]

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Rachel’s Reads – October 2022

“More than kisses, letters mingle souls.” – John Donne There is something incredibly intimate about reading an epistolary novel. It feels a bit like finding a box of letters and discovering the thoughts and feelings that drove someone. Books that are told through the perspective of diaries and letters can sometimes make characters seem more […]

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Rachel’s Reads – September 2022

“Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.” – Voltaire Literary censorship is something that has existed throughout time. Books have been banned and burned for a plethora of reasons including language, morality, challenging a leader, and violence. Ultimately, it is about control. In Ancient China, 460 Confucian scholars were […]

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Rachel’s Reads – August 2022

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” – Sydney J. Harris As we enter the period where students and parents get ready to head back to school, I find myself thinking about education in general. Receiving an education can open minds to new perspectives, and knowledge obtained is (hopefully) gained forever. […]

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